Package



Oct. 22, 1940. .1. T. HARTNET-r Er AL PACKAGE Filed Oct. 7. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 TToRNEY,

Oct- 22. 1940- J. T. HARTNETT ET AL' 2,219,183

' PACKAGE v Filed 0G15. 7, 1936 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 3 Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED .STATES PACKAGE John T.- Hartnett, Boston, and Charles J Emerson,

Winchester, Mass.

Application october 7, 1936scria1No. 104,478

1 Claim.

-In connection with the retail sale of numerous small articles, such as tacks, staples, screws, clips, rivets, and other metallic fasteners, much annoyance and expense is caused by the fact that customers open the packages, remove some of the articles in order to examine them and determine whether or not they are suited to their requirements, and then do not replace them, or place them in the wrong package, or fail to close the 1 package.

It has been proposed to avoid this diiiiculty by attaching a sample of thearticle to the outside of the package, but this expedient has not proved satisfactory. Among the reasons for its failure `may -be mentioned particularly the increase in the expense of packaging, the fact that the sample projecting from the surface of the package is very likely to get knocked 0E, and it prevents stacking the packages which is objectionable in handling them.

The present invention deals particularly with these considerations and aims to devise a package in which the advantages of `exposing a sample of the contents will be preserved while the objectionable features will be eliminated.

The nature of the invention will be readily understoodfrom the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly vpointed out in the appended claim'.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an insert used in one type of package embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a carton or box 35 of a common type in which the insert shown in Fig. 1 is tok be placed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box shown in Fig. 1 completed in accordance with this invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal and transverse sectional views, respectively, of the package shown in Fig. 3;

Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, are perspective views showing different methods of mounting samples in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another construction of a platform or partition which may be substituted for that shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 13 and `13a are perspective and transverse :sectional views, respectively, of another form which the invention may take;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a different kind of platformj and Fig. 15 is a perspective View of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the package there shown comprises a` bo-x or carton 2 of a common construction, except only that itis provided with a Window 3 in its upper or top side. These boxes are customarily made of cardboard, or some equivalent material. The particular package shown is. designed to contain a definite quantity ofinsulated staples of the type used in securing electric wires to a Wall or other support. As shown at 4, such an article comprises a metal staple and a folded piece of sheet insulation o, the legsof the staple being forced through the insulation in such a manner` that the staple can be driven into the wall straddling the wire and the wire Will be held completely out of contact with the metal part of the -staple by the insulating material.

Mounted in the box 2 is a partition or platform 5, spaced from the bottom of the box and supported by integral flanges 5 -6 which, as shown in Fig. 5, lie snugly against the opposite sidev walls of the box. This platform supports the sample staple 4. Y In order to vhold it securely in place, a tongue or ange 1 is punched from the material of the platform and the legs of the staple are forcedk through it. Above this flange a hole 8, best shown in Fig. 12, is punched through the platform and is of such shape and dimensions as to receive snugly one of the projecting ends of the insulating piece a. This arrangement provides a firm-mounting for the sample staple. In addition, the platform 5 is so spaced from the bottom and top walls of the box that the sample does not project above the latter wall. Preferably .the inner edges of the flanges 6 6 arebevelled, as shown at 9, Fig. 1, to enable them to slide easily over the inside flap in the box.

In producing this package the box may be made in accordance with the usual manufacturing operations. The platform 5 is made independently, and thesample is mounted on it. At any vconvenient time before the packages are filled the platform, with its sample in place, is

slipped into the box 2. This platform divides the space in the box into two compartments, namely, a main compartment below the partition and designed to receive the merchandise to be sold, and a supplemental outer compartment lying just below the top of lthe box and in which the sample is located. Usually, however, the latter space canbe made .very .narrow so that'the reduction in the useful space in the box is not important.

Such a package completely avoids the objections above describedto prior attempts to mount samples on packages. Since the customer can see the color, shape and size of the sample, he has no occasion to open the box. Furthermore, the sample is located entirely within the outside dimensions of the box. Its presence, therefore, does not interfere with the handling or stacking of the packages.

Staples and various other articles which can be packaged in essentially the same manner, are customarily sold in different sizes, colors, or finishes, all of which are important from the standpoint of the user. Consequently, it is customary to print on the outside of the box information giving these facts. All of such printing as to color and finish, and often much of it concerning size, can be eliminated by exposing a sample in the manner here provided. This is an important advantage in reducing the number of boxes that must be made for a given product, since it facilitates the standardization of the packages and greatly reduces the number of varieties of boxes or cartons required. v

For those conditionsin whichit is desirable to space the platform 5 positively from both the top and bottom of the box, an arrangement like that shown in Fig. 12 can be used. Here the platform 5 is like that shown in Fig. 5, but is joined to the cooperating side pieces 6'6 by folds which provide flange sections b and c, respectively, both above and below the level of the platform.

When either platform construction is used, it permits the manufacture of the box from a lighter weight material since the platform itself stiffens and strengthens` the box. This reinforcing or strengthening action may be made even more effective by using a platform of a construction shown in Fig. 14 in which an-end flange 6a is provided in addition to the side flanges of the form shown in Fig. 1.

The manner in which other articles may be mounted on the platform 5 is illustrated in other figures. For example, staples or double pointed tacks can be secured in the ange 1, as shown at I2 in Fig. 6l.

Fig. 7 shows a tack I3mounted on the plat-k form, the latter being provided with a slot or slit I4 to receive the head of the tack and with another' slit I5 to receive the point. Thusan interlocking connection between the fastener and the platform at spaced points is provided in this arrangement, much as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

f Paper clips, like that shown at I6 in Fig. 8, may be mounted in the manner there illustrated.

Nails, screws, rivets, and the like, may be secured in the manner shown at I 1 in Fig. 9 Where a clinched staple I8 fastens the article securely to the platform. This same arrangement may beused in securing'washers, such as that shozwn at in Fig. 10, the staple being indicated at` I.

VHollow rivets, like that shown at 22, Fig. 11, may be secured in much the manner illustrated in Fig. 7, the platform being slotted as shown at 23 to receive the head and having a tongue 24 punched out of it which enters the lower hollow end of the rivet.

In any of the foregoing constructions where the sample is not positively secured t0 the platform, a drop of glue or other adhesive may be used to make the attachment of the sample to the platform more secure. Also, in these various forms of the invention the Window may either be left open or the opening may be closed with a sheet of Cellophane, Kodopak or other transparent material.

Figs. 13 and 13a show a construction essentially like that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, except that the platform 21, corresponding to the platform 5, is made of slightly greater width than the internal width of the bo'x25f. Consequently, it assumes a buckled form. It may either buckle outwardly, as shown in Fig. 13, where it projects the sample into the window 26, or it may buckle downwardly or inwardly as shown in Fig. 13a, where the sample lies entirely below the adjacent outer wall of the box. This platform and its supporting flanges are made of material having sufficient resiliency to permit this buckling action. If the package is stood on end the contents will force the sample outwardly as shown in Fig. 13. But whenfthe `package is laid down in the position necessary for stacking them, the mere pressure of one package on another will force the sample into a position below the top of the box as illustrated in Fig. 13a.

Another form, which the invention may take, is illustrated in Figl15. -Here, a slightly different box construction -is used, as indicated at 28, and the platform 29 vis provided with one flange only, this flange 30 being tucked into the box at the rear edges of the wings or flaps 3I-3I. This arrangement is of advantage in filling the boxes by certain types of automatic filling machines since it permits the parts 29 and 3| to be turned upwardly for this operation' and leaves the entire top of thebox open. Subsequently, these parts are folded down flat, the cover 33 alsois folded down and the tab 34 is tucked in at the forward edge ofthe box. The window'4 32 is formed in the top 33. I

While we Vhave herein shown and described typical uses of our invention, it will be understood that the 'invention isequally applicable to the packaging of other products, and that, consequently, it may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

f Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim as new is: f y

A package of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular -cardboardjbox having a top with a Window positioned' substantially centrally thereinl aplatforml in said box` belowsaid window, saidbox having a space therein below said platform `to hold a supply of articles to be merchandised, and means for ,holdingv a sample of said article securedv in a fixed position on said platform below said:windowwhere-itcan be seen therethrough, said securing 'means comprising a tab struck from the central portion of the'platform, and said article impaled thereon,

said box including fiaps for substantially closing said space but operable to openitfor the with@ drawal of said articles from below the platform,

and means supporting said vplatform in 'its oper'- 

